Freak Out Dinner at DeSoto Central Market Will Feature 13 Top Valley Chefs

Heads up, Phoenix. The 7 Chef Series is back. And this summer's first dinner is like last year's events — but on a massive amount of carnival-themed steroids.

2015's first dinner, called the 7 Chef Series Freak Out, will be held on Thursday, June 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DeSoto Central Market.

The event is a continuation of the 7 Chef Series, which started last summer when a group of local chefs including Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House/The Gladly, Gio Osso of Virtu, and Josh Hebert of Posh banded together for a series of events. Dubbed the "7 Chef Series" for the fact that each event featured seven local chefs, these events followed an ingredient-driven theme (i.e. the 7 Chef Steak-Out, the 7 Chef Veg-Out, and the 7-Chef Pig Out).

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Later this week, the series returns, and the organizers are kicking off the summer with a carnival-themed, all-you-can-eat dinner, featuring not seven, but 13 local chefs.

Here's the list:

Bernie Kantak - The Gladly & Citizen Public House

Gio Osso - Virtu Honest Craft

Greg Weiner - Top of The Rock

Scott Holmes - Little Miss BBQ

Michael Babcock - Welcome Diner & Welcome Chicken + Doughnuts

Kelly Fletcher - soon to be opened unnamed restaurant

Keenan Bosworth - Pig & Pickle

Chris McKinley - Fox Restaurant Concepts

Stephen Jones - yard bird + the larder, Desoto Central Market

Jacob Cutino - Homeboy’s Habanero

Quentin Brown - Radish

Allan Inocencio - Adobo Dragon

Lester Gonzales - Cowboy Ciao

According to DeSoto Central Market chef Stephen Jones, the Freak Out also has enlisted help from a few of the Valley best cocktail makers. Bartenders such as Micah Olsen of Crudo, Brian Goodwin of The Gladly, and Alexa Bowler of The Upton will sling cocktails at the event — and Jones says there are "still some secrets to come."

Tickets to the dinner, which cost $80 per person or $150 per couple, include carnival-themed dishes from each of the chefs and two drink tickets.

The 21-and-over event also will feature music from DJ Mr. Phoenix, and each attendee will get one raffle ticket good for a chance to win prizes from Kendra Scott Jewelry, Chipotle, and participating chefs. Guests are invited to wear their craziest carnival-inspired attire. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the The Hope Fund at Phoenix Children's Hospital, which helps the hospital " launch critical new programs, purchase essential equipment, conduct cutting-edge research, provide charitable care, and much more."